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English
Series:
Part 36 of Eyes Cleared By Chaos
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Fanfics I Wish Were Canon 3000
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Published:
2022-07-12
Words:
801
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1/1
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12
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60
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3
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699

When to Act (and when not to)

Summary:

Kariya and Lancelot watch the chaos unfold, with lots and LOTS of Lancelot's commentary on how things develop.

This is a short chapter, but the next one should be up shortly and be fun!

Notes:

Hi! Short, late chapter because I got sunburned so badly that I couldn't move yesterday lol. The Lake was too cold to get in and so I sat in the sand and read instead, My Mistake. But really, it's july, you'd think the Great Lakes would have warmed up by now. I am grumby.

Anyway, Kariya and Lancelot are doing a GREAT job being chatty here, and I enjoyed it even if it's short.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

“Oh my fucking god…” Kariya muttered, with Lancelot once more hovering over him as they both stared openly at the seeing calcite crystal. The moth that had been up by Iskandar and Waver on the bridge had been flung off into the wind by the force of the chariot, and she would be back when she got her wings under her. But now, one of the tiny white ones fluttered in as a replacement, giving them another view of the battlefield.

Iskandar was there, gloriously planted between them like it was his divine right. And perhaps he considered it just that. But the faces of the pair of knights standing on either side of his grand war chariot spoke of other opinions. Shock. Anger. Annoyance. Open disbelief that someone would be so very rude. The expressions scrawled across Diarmuid and the King of Knight were easy to read, and only increased in their disbelief as Iskandar made his grand introduction.

“Iskandar will not kill her unless pushed. And she and Sir Diarmuid are more likely to work together against him than anything else. I will stay.” Lancelot cautiously tucked his hands into Kariya’s sides, fitting his arms around his Master once more.

“That’s- dear god look at Waver’s face, poor kid.” Kariya couldn’t help but laugh. Just a little bit. And it made Lancelot smile as well. “You know, this whole little song and dance out there just makes me even more glad that you’re mine.”

“Do not underestimate my ability to go toe to toe in a pissing contest, Kariya.” The warning was subdued, but humorous nonetheless. “My sword is longer than hers.”

“Cruel comparison to make right after finding out your King is a woman.”

“I have always known. Where I grew up, in the Lake, such things were not as strange as they are today. Names and pronouns are a choice there and she is not as subtle as she thinks. I merely used the pronouns she requested. Her gender does not matter, Arondight is longer than Excalibur.”

“Oh, you meant that literally.”

“Yes, I did, though I do know a few interesting little tidbits that confirm that I still win that other little competition. However my weapon is literally longer than both Iskandars and The King’s.”

“If shit gets any worse out there, I’m going to put you to the test on that. If it comes right down to it, back Iskandar. He and Waver don’t seem as utterly batshit as the rest of mage society and Diarmuid’s master has actively given a death order already.” Kariya looked out at all of them. Backing away wasn’t an option. Not really, given what he was looking at and Lancelot’s ties to Arthur. Instead, he grabbed on to Lancelot’s hand for some sense of surety. “Lancelot, remember. Her actions are her own. You can’t save her from everything. If she makes a choice to fight, don’t get in her way.”

“I followed her into death once already. I will not repeat that with your life on the line.” Lancelot squeezed his hand.

And they both turned to watch Iskandar, King of Conquerors, speak to the other heroic spirits. An offer. For an honorable surrender.

The responses were instant and disgusted. 

“I’m afraid, I will have to decline,” Diarmuid shook his head in disgust, smirking in disbelief as he looked down at his spears for a moment. “I will only give the grail to one person, and one person only. My new avowed Lord.” His eyes went hard, even through the viewing crystal it was easy to see the intensity of his glare as he stared at Iskandar. “And never to the likes of you!”

Lancelot’s King was equally vitriolic. “I stand with the Spearman. I shall never yield the Grail to yourself. Furthermore, I am the King responsible for the Isles, Artoria Pendragon, Heir to Uther Pendragon. I shall never lower myself to the likes of a retainer. Not for you, Not for any.”

“Artoria…” Lancelot’s voice in Kariya’s mind blotted out whatever offensive thing Iskandar followed Artoria’s declaration up with. “She just changed it to a different ending. No wonder Kay still called her Bear.”

“Does Bear have some connection?” Kariya asked, looking down at the crystal again before looking back up at his Servant.

“Artorius. It means bear. Artos. In the Latin. And Arth is bear in Welsh. And- Oh gods above.” Lancelot’s gaze also tracked back to Artoria, where she had taken a fighting stance again. She looked offended, moreso than she had a moment before, and she looked utterly furious. “She can’t use her thumb, what is she thinking?! Charging a mounted opponent one-handed?!”

And then a man stepped out of the shadows, and the viewpoint switched. The Master of Lancer had finally revealed himself.

Notes:

Comments, kudos, predictions, incoherent screaming, all very VERY welcome in my inbox!

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